😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $527 in Kegalle.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $868 in Kegalle.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,208 in Kegalle.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 125% more expensive than Kegalle, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Kegalle61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$3.91LKR 1,247
185.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$25.26LKR 8,057
70.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$8.19LKR 2,611
0.37%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.72LKR 866
15.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.74LKR 237
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.38LKR 120
18.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.40LKR 764
-11.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.29LKR 1,050
-9.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.72LKR 549
9.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.55LKR 176
32.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.81LKR 259
128.40%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.15LKR 684
13.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$14.00LKR 4,463
-43.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$4.78LKR 1,525
30.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$8.24LKR 2,627
18.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$7.27LKR 2,319
-83.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.11LKR 356
43.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$5.81LKR 1,853
-69.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.22LKR 389
90.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.12LKR 357
-36.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.36LKR 433
-50.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.19LKR 378
-0.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.57LKR 182
24.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$10.03LKR 3,199
-70.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$12.41LKR 3,957
-41.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.03LKR 648
-23.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.88LKR 917
-19.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.38LKR 121
289.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.35LKR 112
97.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$0.57LKR 182
1207.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.22LKR 389
-5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$26.5KLKR 8.4M
-31.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$35.1KLKR 11.2M
-43.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$61.0LKR 19.5K
20.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$4.24LKR 1,352
174.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$14.87LKR 4,743
19.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$3.44LKR 1,097
89.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$36.80LKR 11.7K
613.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$446LKR 142.2K
1052.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$28.10LKR 8,961
176.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$19.44LKR 6,199
128.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$69.1LKR 22.0K
70.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$39.28LKR 12.5K
190.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
16.45
-27.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Kegalle: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Kegalle. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $256, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tbilisi vs Kegalle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kegalle?
Kegalle wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kegalle the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Kegalle?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $791 in Kegalle to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Kegalle?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $36.80 in Kegalle. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi vs Kegalle?
Dining out is cheaper in Kegalle – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Kegalle?
At $527 in Kegalle versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kegalle but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kegalle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kegalle?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kegalle delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $527 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kegalle hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kegalle?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kegalle are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kegalle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.